How Write In Votes Work…if You're a Republican

Shelley Sekula-Gibbs, as you might remember, didn't manage to make the ballot in her race as a Republican from Texas's 22nd House district (for complicated reasons having to do with Tom DeLay's resignation), but still managed to pull 42 percent of the vote–and to win a special election (for which she was on the ballot) to fill the seat until the real winner Nick Lampson is sworn in in January. Via Wonkette, this instructive list of names that counted as votes for her:

Voters cast their write-in ballots for, among others: Kelly Segula Gibbs, Snelly Gibbr, Schikulla Gibbs, Sheila Gibbs, Shelly Schulla Gibbs, Shelly Gibkula and, by someone who obviously never wanted the joy of using the machine to end, ShelleySkulaGibbsssss.

The absolute best one — perhaps the best political name of all time — was (we are not lying) "Shelly DraculaCunt Gibs." It counted.

Democracy works, people. It works.

The Houston Chronicle on Sekula-Gibbs' angry call for a congressional investigation of the rump DeLay staffers who all quit because they couldn't stand their temporary new boss.